Adjustable bracket for step flange cover

Abstract

A connection between step flange covers 54 and passenger conveyor frames 60 is adjustable to vary the position of a step flange cover relative 54 to moving tread plates 18 or a moving skirt 52 in at least two directions. The adjustable connection 64 permits the step flange cover 54 to be precisely positioned with respect to the tread plates 18 or the skirt 52 without the necessity of using crude adjustment techniques, such as, for example, using shims.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A passenger conveyor comprising:
 a frame; 
 a step chain moveably connected to the frame; 
 a conveyor drive connected to the frame and configured to drive the step chain; 
 a plurality of tread plates connected to the step chain; 
 a step flange cover arranged adjacent to the tread plates; 
 a first bracket connected to the frame; 
 a second bracket connected to the step flange cover; 
 one or more bosses on one of the first bracket and the second bracket; and 
 a connector between the first bracket and the second bracket configured to pivot the second bracket with respect to the first bracket about the bosses to vary a position of the step flange cover in at least two directions. 
 
     
     
       2. The passenger conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein the connector between the first bracket and the second bracket comprises at least one fastener, and the connector varies the position of the step flange cover in the at least two directions by adjusting a single fastener. 
     
     
       3. The passenger conveyor of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first bracket comprises a first plate arranged in generally parallel relationship and connected to a first plate of the second bracket by the connector; and 
 wherein the bosses are interposed between and arranged on one of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket. 
 
     
     
       4. The passenger conveyor of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket comprises:
 a first plate; 
 a second plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate; and 
 a third plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate and approximately parallel to the second plate; 
 wherein a first plate of the second bracket is arranged in generally parallel relationship with, and is connected to, the first plate of the first bracket by the connector. 
 
     
     
       5. The passenger conveyor of  claim 4 ,
 wherein the first bracket comprises a cutout in the first plate to define a void between the second and the third plates; and 
 wherein the connector comprises a first fastener generally centrally aligned with the cutout and engaging a hole in the first plate of the first bracket offset from the cutout. 
 
     
     
       6. The passenger conveyor of  claim 5 , wherein the bosses are arranged adjacent the cutout on one of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket. 
     
     
       7. The passenger conveyor of  claim 6 , wherein the connector further comprises a second fastener arranged in the cutout and connected to the second bracket to cause one of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket to abut the bosses on the other of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket. 
     
     
       8. The passenger conveyor of  claim 7 , wherein the second fastener comprises a resilient member arranged between the second fastener and the first plate of the first bracket. 
     
     
       9. The passenger conveyor of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first fastener is configured to push on the first plate of the second bracket to rotate the first plate of the second bracket about the bosses; and 
 wherein the resilient member is configured to be compressed by the second fastener as the first plate of the second bracket rotates. 
 
     
     
       10. The passenger conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the second bracket comprises:
 the first plate arranged in generally parallel relationship with and connected to the first plate of the first bracket by the connector; 
 a second plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate; 
 a third plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate and approximately parallel to the second plate; and 
 a fourth plate arranged in generally perpendicular relationship with and connected to the second and the third plates; 
 wherein the fourth plate is arranged in generally parallel relationship with, and is connected to, the step flange cover. 
 
     
     
       11. The passenger conveyor of  claim 10 , wherein the fourth plate comprises one or more cutouts in one or more peripheral edges of the fourth plate that receive one or more fasteners connected to the step flange cover. 
     
     
       12. The passenger conveyor of  claim 11 , wherein the cutouts comprise two cutouts in a first peripheral edge and two cutouts in a second peripheral edge approximately parallel to the first edge. 
     
     
       13. The passenger conveyor of  claim 4 , wherein the second bracket comprises:
 the first plate arranged in generally parallel relationship with and connected to the first plate of the first bracket by the connector; and 
 a second plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate and oriented approximately perpendicularly to the second and the third plates of the first bracket; 
 wherein the second plate is arranged in generally parallel relationship with, and is connected to, the step flange cover. 
 
     
     
       14. The passenger conveyor of  claim 1  further comprising a moving skirt connected to at least one side of the tread plates, wherein the step flange cover at least partially covers the moving skirt. 
     
     
       15. A device for connecting a step flange cover to a frame of a passenger conveyor, the device comprising:
 a first bracket connected to the frame; 
 a second bracket connected to the step flange cover; 
 one or more bosses on one of the first bracket and the second bracket; and 
 a connector between the first bracket and the second bracket configured to pivot the second bracket with respect to the first bracket about the bosses to vary a position of the step flange cover in at least two directions. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the connector between the first bracket and the second bracket comprises at least one fastener and the connector varies the position of the step flange cover in the at least two directions by adjusting a single fastener. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the first bracket comprises a first plate arranged in generally parallel relationship and connected to a first plate of the second bracket by the connector; and 
 wherein the bosses are arranged on and interposed between one of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first bracket comprises:
 a first plate; 
 a second plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate; and 
 a third plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate and approximately parallel to the second plate; 
 wherein a first plate of the second bracket is arranged in generally parallel relationship with and is connected to the first plate of the first bracket by the connector. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the first bracket comprises a cutout in the first plate to define a void between the second and the third plates; and 
 wherein the connector comprises a first fastener generally centrally aligned with the cutout and engaging a hole in the first plate of the first bracket offset from the cutout. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19 , wherein the bosses are arranged adjacent the cutout on one of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket. 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 20 , wherein the connector further comprises a second fastener arranged in the cutout and connected to the second bracket to cause one of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket to abut the bosses on the other of the first plate of the first bracket and the first plate of the second bracket. 
     
     
       22. The device of  claim 21 , wherein the second fastener comprises a resilient member arranged between the second fastener and the first plate of the first bracket. 
     
     
       23. The device of  claim 22 ,
 wherein the first fastener is configured to push on the first plate of the second bracket to rotate the first plate of the second bracket about the bosses; and 
 wherein the resilient member is configured to be compressed by the second fastener as the first plate of the second bracket rotates. 
 
     
     
       24. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the second bracket comprises:
 the first plate arranged in generally parallel relationship with and connected to the first plate of the first bracket by the connector; 
 a second plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate; 
 a third plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate and approximately parallel to the second plate; and 
 a fourth plate arranged in generally perpendicular relationship with and connected to the second and the third plates; 
 wherein the fourth plate is arranged in generally parallel relationship with and is connected to the step flange cover. 
 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the fourth plate comprises one or more cutouts in one or more peripheral edges of the fourth plate that receive one or more fasteners connected to the step flange cover. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 25 , wherein the cutouts comprise two cutouts in a first peripheral edge and two cutouts in a second peripheral edge approximately parallel to the first edge. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 18 , wherein the second bracket comprises:
 the first plate arranged in generally parallel relationship with and connected to the first plate of the first bracket by the connector; and 
 a second plate projecting approximately perpendicularly from the first plate and oriented approximately perpendicularly to the second and the third plates of the first bracket; 
 wherein the second plate is arranged in generally parallel relationship and connected to the step flange cover. 
 
     
     
       28. A method of adjustably connecting a step flange cover to a frame of a passenger conveyor, the method comprising:
 attaching a first bracket to the frame; 
 attaching a second bracket to the step flange cover; and 
 connecting the first bracket to the second bracket such that the second bracket is pivotable with respect to the first bracket about one or more bosses on one of the first bracket and the second bracket.